Job Description

Job Role: Head of Assay Development & Screening
Site: Chapel-en-le-Frith (UK)
Salary: Up to 60,000 Based on Experience

Concept Life Sciences seeks an experienced assay development and screening biologist with a track record of leading research in a pharma, biotech or CRO environment. You will join our integrated drug discovery team and work alongside our experts from across the drug discovery disciplines to develop innovative strategies enabling of our clients' research projects.

What you will be doing:

As a senior member of our drug discovery team, you will be an internal Subject Matter Expert in assay development and screening biology and help shape our integrated services. You will also provide biology and drug discovery leadership across multiple client projects from hit identification to candidate nomination, spanning a wide range of therapeutic areas.

Key activities include:

Develop biochemical and cell-based assays to help drive development of novel therapeutics. Build screening cascades adapted to each target class, therapeutic modality and disease area. Serve as the SME on complex bioassays to aid in development and troubleshooting. Lead the assay development and screening team and shape its growth. Lead strong cross-functional collaborations with colleagues across the drug discovery field. Develop scientific content for proposals, drive technical discussions with clients, and cultivate long-term relationships. Stay abreast of the latest advancements in screening biology, develop and deploy innovative technologies/methodologies.

About you:

BSc, MSc or PhD in biological or pharmaceutical Sciences, with extensive relevant experience in assay development and screening within in a CRO, biotech or pharma environment. Proven expertise in designing, optimising, validating and troubleshooting bioassays across biochemical, biophysical and cellular platforms. Experience applying assay development and screening approaches across a wide range of therapeutic areas, ensuring adaptability and scientific rigor. Excellent analytical skills with a track record of innovating and implementing high-throughput screening solutions. Leadership experience, including mentoring and training scientists to build technical capability and ensure best practices in assay development. Ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously, adapting to evolving priorities in a fast-paced setting. Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills fostering collaboration across multidisciplinary teams Highly organised and detail-oriented, with exceptional problem-solving and communication skills.

What you will get:

In addition to a competitive salary, we provide generous holiday entitlement, a pension scheme with enhanced employer contributions, a health cash plan which extends to a range of therapy treatments, a cycle to work scheme, a retail discount scheme, a death in service benefit, a discretionary bonus scheme and free on-site parking. Colleague wellbeing is important to us, and we are proud of our inclusive, supportive culture. We offer a range of learning and development opportunities and a comprehensive support system to help you develop both personally and professionally.

About Concept Life Sciences:

Concept Life Sciences is a multi-disciplined Contract Research Organisation based in the UK providing market-leading scientific services globally. Over the past 25 years, Concept Life Sciences and its heritage companies have played a pivotal role in guiding numerous clients along their path to clinical success and many of these clients have evolved into enduring scientific collaborators.

From our 4 sites across the UK, we provide world-leading expertise to the pharmaceutical, biotech, agrochemical, and material science industries. We have clients across Europe, Asia, and the US, who value our knowledge-based, science-led, and customer-focused approach.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: Up to 60,000.00 per year

Benefits:

Bereavement leave Company pension Cycle to work scheme Enhanced maternity leave Free parking Health & wellbeing programme Life insurance On-site parking Referral programme
Work Location: In person